Method and device for band translation

ABSTRACT

A band translation method and device for selecting two or more desired frequency bands of data and bandstacking the two or more desired frequency bands of data into a single output.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,330, filed May 27, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/575,579, filed May 28, 2004, and titled BAND TRANSLATION SWITCH, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a subscription satellite system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the logical elements of a television converter device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a multi-satellite subscription television system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multiple-satellite system employing single and double tuner television converter devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a multiple-satellite band translating system connected to a dual-tuner television converter device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a multiple-satellite band translating system connected to a multiple-tuner television converter device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a low noise block converter embodiment employing the band translating system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification, embodiments of the present invention will be described using methods and systems related to subscriber satellite television service. This detailed description is not limited to any specific embodiment described herein. The present invention may also be applicable to cable television systems, broadcast television systems or other television systems. The present invention is also described in terms of digital video recorder (DVR) devices. The present invention may also be applicable to digital-versatile-disc (DVD) recording devices or other television recording devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention can apply elsewhere. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

As a general matter, the disclosure uses the term “signal.” One skilled in the art will recognize that the signal may be any digital or analog signal. Those signals may include, but are not limited to, a bit, a specified set of bits, an A/C signal, or a D/C signal. Uses of the term “signal” in the description may include any of these different interpretations. It will also be understood to one skilled in the art that the term “connected” is not limited to a physical connection but can refer to any means of communicatively or operatively coupling two devices.

As another general matter, the disclosure uses the terms “television converter,” “receiver,” “set-top-box,” “television receiving device,” “television receiver,” “television recording device,” “satellite set-top-box,” “satellite receiver,” “cable set-top-box,” “cable receiver,” and “television tuner” to refer interchangeably to a converter device or electronic equipment that has the capacity to acquire, process and distribute one or more television signals transmitted by broadcast, cable, telephone or satellite distributors. DVR and “personal video recorder (PVR)” refer interchangeably to devices that can record and play back television signals and that may implement trick functions including, but not limited to, fast-forward, rewind and pause. As set forth in this specification and the figures pertaining thereto, DVR and PVR functionality or devices may be combined with a television converter. The signals transmitted by these broadcast, cable, telephone or satellite distributors may include, individually or in any combination, internet, radio, television or telephonic data or information. One skilled in the art will recognize that a television converter device may be implemented as an external self-enclosed unit, a plurality of external self-enclosed units or as an internal unit housed within a television. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can apply to analog and digital satellite set-top-boxes.

As yet another general matter, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the term “television” refers to a television set or video display that may contain an integrated television converter device (e.g., an internal cable-ready television tuner housed inside a television) or, alternatively, that is connected to an external television converter device (e.g., an external set-top-box connected via cabling to a television). A further example of an external television converter device is the EchoStar Dish PVR 721, Part Number 106525, combination satellite set-top-box and DVR.

As a general matter, it should also be understood that satellite television signals may be very different from broadcast television or other types of signals. Satellite signals may include multiplexed, packetized, and modulated digital signals. Once multiplexed, packetized and modulated, one analog satellite transmission may carry digital data representing several television stations or service providers. Some examples of service providers include HBO®, CSPAN®, ABC®, CBS®, or ESPN®.

Finally, the term “channel,” as used in this description, carries a different meaning from its normal connotation. The term “channel” is used herein to denote a particular carrier frequency or “sub-band” which can be tuned to by an appropriate tuner. In particular, note that “channel” does not refer to a single program/content service (e.g., CNN®, HBO®, CSPAN®). Similarly, “tuning” herein refers to receiving a channel (as previously defined) having multiple services thereon. A single satellite will typically have multiple transponders (e.g., 32 transponders) each one broadcasting a channel or band of approximately 24 to 27 MHz (0.024-0.027 GHz) in a broader frequency “band” of approximately 500 MHz. Thus a band of 0.5 GHz may contain numerous sub-bands or channels of roughly 24-27 MHz and each channel in turn may carry a combined stream of digital data comprising a number of content services.

FIG. 1 illustrates a subscription satellite system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The uplink center 1 of this embodiment transmits a combined stream of audio/video/data (herein more simply termed the “video stream”) on the uplink channel 10 to satellite 2. It should be noted that video streams for a plurality of services (e.g., CNN®, HBO®, CSPAN®) may be multiplexed onto a single uplink channel 10. In typical direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems it is not uncommon to have six or more video streams multiplexed onto a single radio frequency channel.

While transmissions to satellite 2 for purposes of satellite control may be made in another band such as the S-band (1.55-3 GHz), the uplink channel 10 used for the data uplink is most likely (but not necessarily) located within the broad K-band (10.9-36 GHz). Typically, the frequency range used is 17.3-17.8 GHz. DBS data streams are likely to be compressed in order to make maximum use of available bandwidth. More specifically, the MPEG-2 standard for video compression is typically used to encode the video stream into time-sequential data.

Satellite 2 may then translates the frequency of the signal for rebroadcast as a downlink channel 11. Satellite 2 may have a number of transponders, each having an assigned frequency sub-band that is typically used to downlink a transport stream. For the downlink, the frequency band of downlink channel 11 may be located within 12.2-12.7 GHZ. Downlink channel 11 creates footprint 12 on the surface of the planet. A footprint 12 is that area in which the downlink channel 11 may be received clearly using inexpensive devices such as dish 6. The dish 6 is typically a parabolic dish having a diameter of roughly 18 to 36 inches and a generally circular or elliptical planiform shape. While footprint 12 is depicted as a rectangular area in FIG. 1, footprint 12 is most likely to be a generally elliptical area many miles across. Dish 6 must be pointed properly if it is to receive the downlink signals. Mechanisms are available to assist in switching between satellites if more than one satellite feed is desired. Satellite 2 may broadcast multiple signals of differing polarity to dish 6, for example an LHCP signal (left hand circular polarity) and an RHCP signal (right hand circular polarity). Other polarities for broadcast signals are possible. As set forth in the present embodiment, many bands of RF data may be transmitted on a single 0.5 GHz bandwidth.

Low noise block converter 3 typically then takes the signals concentrated by dish 6, selects a polarity and translates the frequency of the signal to a lower frequency more suitable for transmission on coaxial cable 13 to television converter device 4. This lower frequency may, for example, be in the L-band (390 to 1550 MHz) or S-band (1.55 to 3.0 GHz). In this simplified embodiment, coaxial cable 13 may be the only connection between dish 6 and television converter device 4.

Television converter device 4 typically demodulates the signal, demultiplexes out the desired service, decodes it from MPEG-2 or other digital format, and reformats it into the appropriate analog or digital video specification (e.g., National Television Standards Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternate Lines (PAL), Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) (also based upon MPEG-2 coding)). Television converter device 4 may then output the signal 16, as appropriate, to television 5, stereo amplifier 7, VCR 8 or other devices. Television converter device 4 may also interact with a call collector 15 via a modem, for example to report pay-per-view purchases, and may also interact with remote control 9 via UHF or IR signals 19. As explained below, television converter device 4 may perform other functions and be connected to fewer or more devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that many embodiments of television converter device 4 are possible and within the scope of this invention.

FIG. 2 provides a high level block diagram for the satellite television converter device 4, 200 with DVR functionality in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The signal 13, 204 that arrives at the satellite STB 200 may undergo extensive processing. The television converter 200 may include one or more tuner devices 206, 246 that may receive a satellite signal 204. In one embodiment, tuner device 206, 246 may acquire one or more satellite signals 204 from satellite television distributor 1. As explained in this disclosure, each signal 204 may represent a distinct frequency band or source. For example, as more fully set forth by FIG. 5, tuner device 206 may receive the 950 MHz to 1450 MHz frequency band, while tuner device 246 may receive the 1650 MHz to 2150 MHz frequency band. Tuner devices 206, 246 may initially process the satellite signal 204. Tuner devices 206, 246 may also receive subscriber commands in the form of signals from control electronics unit 202. Signals from control electronics unit 202 may include, but is not limited to, a signal to tune to a transponder as part of the process of selecting a certain channel for viewing on a peripheral device. One skilled in the art would recognize that the tuner device 206 may include fewer, more, or different components.

After receiving the signal 204, one of the first steps may be to demodulate 208 the signal 204. The signal 204 may arrive as an analog signal that “carries” data (e.g., data is modulated onto the analog signal). Demodulation 208 may be accomplished by reversing the modulation process. Modulation can be done in several ways. Modulation may include amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM). If the carried data is digital, modulation methods include, but are not limited to, biphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadraphase-shift keying (QPSK), or eight-phase shift keying (8PSK). One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of modulating and demodulating the signal 204 may be possible. Another one of the first steps may also be to error check 208 signal 204. One example of error checking 208 is forward error checking (FEC). FEC 208 may include, but is not limited to, inspecting parity bit or bits that may accompany signal 204. One skilled in the art will recognize that many methods for error checking are possible. For the purposes of discussion, an embodiment using digital data will be discussed below. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that systems with analog data or combined analog and digital data are also possible and contemplated herein.

In this embodiment, satellite STB 200 contains control electronics unit 202 that receives satellite signal 204. One skilled in the art will recognize that control electronics 202 may receive other signals, including, but not limited to, signals from a cable or broadcast television distributor. One example of a control electronics unit 202 is the STMicroelectronics STi5517 Low-Cost Interactive Set-top Box Decoder, Part No. 7424736A. In one embodiment, control electronics unit 202 includes discrete electronic components combined into a single circuit with a shared bus 210. In other embodiments, control electronics unit 202 may be configured differently. For example, one or more of the control electronics unit 202 components in STB 200 may be combined or omitted. The control electronics unit 202 may use a custom ASIC, such as from the LSILogic G11 family, or FPGA, such as from the Altera Stratix™ family. As a further example, one or more of the control electronics unit 202 components in STB 200 may not share a bus 210, but may nonetheless be operatively connected by some other means. One skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations of STB 200 and control electronics unit 202 are possible and within the scope of this invention. One skilled in the art will further recognize that some components of STB 200 and control electronics unit 202 may be implemented in hardware or software. The control electronics unit 202 may operate under the control of a software program, firmware program, or some other program stored in memory or control logic. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the control electronics unit 202 may include other electronic components or structures to mediate or process signals.

Control electronics unit 202 may contain one or more central-processing-units (CPUS) 212 or processors. One embodiment of control electronics unit 202 contains a single CPU 212 that is operatively connected to the shared bus. In one embodiment, CPU 212 may be used, among other things, for logical operations for STB 200 functions including, but not limited to, channel selection, recording control, EPG display and control and system maintenance. Examples of commercially available CPUs 212 include the STMicroelectronics Enhanced ST20 32-bit VL-RISC, Motorola 68000 or Intel Pentium processors. One skilled in the art will recognize that the CPU 212 may be integrated with memory or other discrete electronics components.

Control electronics unit 202 may contain one or more volatile memory components 214. Volatile memory components 214 may include, but are not limited to, one or more SDRAM memory chips. Similarly, control electronics unit 202 may also contain one or more non-volatile memory components 216. Non-volatile memory 216 may include one or more memory chips, including, but not limited to, ROM, SRAM, SDRAM and Flash ROM. One skilled in the art will recognize that volatile memory 214 and non-volatile memory 216 may be integrated within other electronics components. One skilled in the art will also recognize that other memory components may be included within STB 200 and control electronics unit 202. One skilled in the art will recognize that memory 214, 216 may be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to, storing EPG data and storing data for use by CPU 212.

In the present embodiment, signal 204 is in digital form (e.g., a digital stream) after demodulation and error correction. For example, digital stream 204 may use, but is not limited to using, the digital video broadcasting (DVB) transport standard. The digital stream 204 may be multiplexed and therefore require demultiplexing by XPORT Engine 222. Demultiplexing 222, or demuxing, may include separating the bits of data into separate digital data streams. The digital streams may be packetized. Thus, the multiplexing of the separate digital data streams may not be bit-by-bit but packet-by-packet. The packet size may vary or may be constant. After demuxing 222 the packets, the separate digital data streams may be reassembled by placing related packets together in a continuous data stream 204.

Each of the separate digital data streams may also be encoded. Encoding is a method for representing data. Encoding may allow the data to be compressed. Compression can provide the system with increased bandwidth. One skilled in the art will recognize that several different encoding formats are possible. In satellite television, encoding formats may include the MPEG, MPEG2 or MPEG4 standards. Beyond the raw data, the separate digital data streams may include forward error correction, headers, checksums, or other information. All of this different information may be included in the digital television signal 204 processed by the satellite STB 4. Control electronics unit 202 may therefore include one or more video processing units 218 that, among other video processing operations, may decode encoded signal 204. In one embodiment, video processing unit 218 may include, but is not limited to, a graphics processor, MPEG-2 decoder and a display compositor with separate on-screen display (OSD) control for peripheral devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that video processing unit 218 may also include other electronics, including, but not limited to, alpha blending, antialiasing, antiflutter and antiflicker filters, memory and video-rendering components.

Another discrete electronic component of control electronics unit 202 may be a video encoder unit 220. Video encoder unit 220 may work in combination with or independently from video processing unit 218. Video encoding unit 220 may encode digital stream 204 for output to one or more peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, a television. For example, video encoding unit 220 may encode digital stream 204 for RGB, CVBS, Y/C and YUV outputs. Encoding may allow program data to be compressed. In one embodiment, video encoder 220 may translate digital stream into a signal using the NTSC, PAL or SECAM standards. One skilled in the art will recognize that video encoder unit 220 may include other functionality, may be integrated into other electronic components of satellite STB 200, and may encode digital stream 204 using other standards, including, but not limited to, MPEG and MPEG2.

Control electronics unit 202 may also include one or more storage interfaces or hard drive interfaces 226 and storage devices or hard drives 232. In one embodiment, television converter device 200 contains one hard drive interface 226 and hard drives 232. Hard drive 232 may be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to, storing recorded programs, buffering currently-playing programs (e.g., buffering a program may allow a user to pause or rewind a program), storing EPG data, storing commands or functions for the control electronics unit 202, storing timers or record events, and storing data for other devices within or connected to the satellite STB 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the connection to the storage device 232 is shown to illustrate the capability of the STB 200 to store television programming as temporary and persistent recordings. In the embodiment the storage device 232 provides the long-term storage functionality of the STB (i.e. records and stores persistent recordings and may also include operating system software and other data or software necessary to the STB 200) and the short-term storage functionality (i.e. records and stores temporary recordings). The storage device 232 may include, for example, one or more devices, such as hard drives, as well as supporting hardware and software. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, all temporary and persistent recordings are located on the storage device 232. In the embodiment shown, the hard drive 232 comprises an 80 GB ‘Winchester’ hard drive connected to the control electronics via a standard IDE/EIDE interface cable. As another example, hard drive 232 may be used to temporarily store data for processing by CPU 212. In this example, the hard drive 232 may allow the processor 212 to separate EPG data arriving as part of digital stream 204. One skilled in the art will recognize that other storage devices and interfaces may be substituted for hard drive interface 226 and hard drive 232 and are within the scope of this invention. One skilled in the art will also recognize that hard drive interface 226 and hard drive 232 may separately or together include an integrated memory (e.g., a memory buffer, commonly known referred to as cache) and additional processing components or logic. One skilled in the art will also recognize that hard drive interface 226 may be integrated into peripheral interface 224 (described below). Finally, one skilled in the art will recognize that hard drive 232 may be external and connected to satellite STB 200. For example, an external hard drive 232 may be connected to satellite STB 200 using USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connections. Such an external hard drive may include a screen for portable viewing of programming stored on it. Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention, the storage device 232 contains expansion slots, such as IDE connections, for the provision of additional storage devices to provide additional capacity at a later time. In addition, some embodiments include connections for external storage devices such as DVD-Rs that provide the capability of using the external devices as if they were an internal storage device. The design and operation of hard drives and similar devices are well known in the art and need not be described further here.

An audio processing unit 228 may also be part of the control electronics unit 202. Audio processing unit 228 may decode the digital stream 204 for output to peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, a stereo, television speakers or portable audio or video players. For example, audio processing unit 228 may decode MPEG-1 layers I/II and layer m, Dolby Digital, Dolby ProLogic, SRS/TruSurround encoded audio in digital stream 204. Audio processing unit 228 may include one or more processors, memory components or digital to audio converter (DAC) systems. One skilled in the art will recognize that other audio processing components and functionality may be accomplished using audio processing unit 228.

A satellite STB 200 may be connected to one or more peripheral electronic devices through peripheral interface 224. These peripheral devices may include a stereo, television 230, smart card 236, VCR, or other devices. In one embodiment, satellite STB 200 is connected to two or more televisions 230, 244. Televisions 230, 244 may serve many purposes, including, but not limited to, displaying television programming, displaying one or more signals processed by one or more tuner devices 206, 246, displaying the EPG, displaying timer conflicts, and displaying other types of data, graphics and programming. Peripheral devices may receive and/or send signals from the satellite STB 200. For instance, the televisions 230, 244 may receive video and audio signals and a stereo may receive only audio signals. A camcorder, on the other hand, may send video or audio signals to the satellite STB 200 or receive audio and video signals from the STB to record. As another example, peripheral interface 224 may include a processor or other electronic components to permit an interface to content security devices such as an external “smart card.” In this example, peripheral interface 224 may then encrypt or decrypt content for output to other peripheral devices. Thus, peripheral interface 224 may perform one or more functions for multiple peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, the synchronous or asynchronous transfer of data between different peripheral devices (e.g., decrypting content using a smart card peripheral device and outputting decrypted content to a television at the same time). One skilled in the art will recognize that the peripheral devices may include many types of commercially available electronic devices.

The satellite STB 200 may also include connections to a remote control 9, 234 peripheral device, also sometimes referred to as a remote. The remote control 234 may be used to send commands to the satellite STB 200. The remote control 234 may send commands via a wireless connection using, for example, infrared or UHF transmitters within the remote control 234. One example of an embodiment of a remote controller 234 is the EchoStar Technologies Corporation 721 Platinum Plus Remote, Part Number 121150, that includes an IR transmitter and an ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitter. The remote control 234 may be able to send signals to other peripheral electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a television, stereo, VCR, or DVD player. The STB 200 may also be able to send signals to the remote control 234, including, but not limited to, signals to configure the remote control 234 to operate other peripheral devices. In some embodiments, the remote control 234 has a set of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Some remote controls may include Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) or other screens. The remote control may include buttons, dials, or other man-machine interfaces. While the remote control 234 may often be the common means for a subscriber to communicate with the satellite STB 200, one skilled in the art will recognize that other means of communicating with the STB 200 are available, including, but not limited to attached keyboards, front panel buttons or touch screens.

The satellite STB 200 may also include a remote control interface. A remote control interface may include any means for the user to communicate to the satellite STB 200, and may be implemented using the peripheral interface 224 of control electronics unit 202 or by connecting a peripheral remote control interface device. In one embodiment, a remote control interface may receive commands from one or more remote controls 234. Remote control 234 may use infrared, UHF, or other communications technology. The remote control interface may therefore translate an input from the user into a format understandable by the control electronics unit 202. The translation systems may include, but are not limited to, electronic receivers and electronic relays. One skilled in the art will recognize that other means to receive and translate user inputs are possible.

Another peripheral device and connection to the satellite STB 200 may include a phone line and modem. STB 200 may use a modem and phone line to communicate with one or more outside entities or systems (e.g., Call Collector 15). The phone line may carry local or long-distance telephone service. One skilled in the art will recognize that the phone line may also carry other services, including, but not limited to, DSL service. These communications may include requesting pay-per-view programming, reporting of purchases (for example, pay-per-view purchases), obtaining updates to subscriber programming (e.g., updating EPG data), or receiving updates to software on the satellite STB 200. For example, the phone line may communicate with the satellite STB 200 using an RJ-11 style telephone connection. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many other uses for this phone line connection. For example, EPG data may be transmitted to STB 200 via phone line or in the satellite signal 204. One skilled in the art will recognize that the EPG data may be transmitted to STB 200 by various other methods, systems and outside entities. Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that a phone line connection to satellite distributor 1 may represent other communication connections, including, but not limited to, wireless, Internet, or microwave communications connections. Another function of the phone line may be to periodically receive the EPG data. One skilled in the art will also recognize that a phone line connection may permit networked communications with other network-ready devices using the telephone wiring within a subscriber's location.

A satellite STB 200 may also include network connectivity. For example, peripheral interface 224 may include components or interfaces that permit the connection of RJ-45 cabling and transmission of TCP/IP traffic to other connected devices. As another example, a wireless router may be attached via peripheral interface 224 to allow wireless local-area-network (WLAN) data communications using a standard wireless networking protocol such as WiMAX, 802.11b or 802.11 g. One skilled in the art will recognize that various other network connections to the STB 200 are possible.

FIG. 3 provides a block diagram of a multiple-satellite system employing single and double tuner television converter devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Satellites 320 and 322 broadcast transport streams 321 and 323 into overlapping footprints 330 and 331. Note that satellites 320 and 322 may broadcast on the same or overlapping frequencies if they are in different orbital slots. However, in an efficient system, satellites 320 and 322 will provide different or substantially different programming services. Dishes/LNBFs 303 and 304 are each pointed and electronically configured so as to receive broadcasts from one each of satellites 320 and 322. The same result can be achieved using a single dish/multi-LNBF (not shown) configured so as to receive in one dish the signals of two or more satellites: such systems are on the market, one example is the Dish 500 system, a product and registered trademark of the Echostar Technologies Corporation.

Switch 301, a source selection switch, is used by the television converter devices 302 and 305 to switch between dish/LNBFs 303 and 304. Each of dish/LNBFs 303 and 304 function as the source of one orbital position programming. The present invention is an improved switch allowing a single coaxial line (either 310 or 314) to simultaneously provide content/programming services selected from both dish 303 and 304. One skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to combining content/programming from only two satellites.

As discussed previously in relation to FIG. 1, satellite 2 will be sending an extremely wide bandwidth of data. Switch 301 and the tuner(s) in television converter device 200 (see FIG. 2) combine to select the appropriate transponder sub-band. Based upon DiSEqC 2.0 protocols received from the television converter device, for example, switch 301 will select the appropriate satellite and band/polarization having the desired programming content contained within it. One skilled in the art will recognize that other control methods are possible. This signal is sent to the appropriate tuner of the television converter device by means of the invention, and the tuner of the television converter device will select first the correct RF transponder sub-band and then the correct content service from among the services (typically 6-12) contained within the sub-band.

FIG. 4, provides a block diagram of a multiple-satellite system employing single and double tuner television converter devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Signals from one or more satellites (not necessarily a minimum or maximum of three satellites) are received by satellite dishes 406, 408 and 410. Thus, each of satellite dishes 406, 408 and 410 functions as a source. For purposes of the appended claims, a source is defined to be a source of a plurality of frequency bands of RF data. Satellite dish 406 will use coaxial cable 412 to send the desired band (LHCP or RHCP) to ordinary source selection switch 404, other connections between other pairs of components are made by similar coaxial cables (not numbered). For purposes of this present invention, such coaxial cables are one type of operative connection; more broadly an operative connection is any device which connects two other devices so as to allow a desired frequency band to flow from the first device to the second device. In particular, in addition to coaxial cables and other types of data cables (e.g., microstrip circuitry, IEEE 1394, telephone wires, Ethernet and USB), certain types of devices including low and high pass filters may be operative connections within the meaning of the appended claims.

Ordinary source selection switch 404 is not able to process signals from more than one dish onto a single cable, so single tuner television converter devices 414, 416 and 418 receive only a single satellite transmission from switch 404. Even if switch 404 is able to bandstack signals from a single satellite, then multiple tuner television converter devices could be used in place of single tuner television converter devices 414, 416, and 418, thus offering PIP/multiple display capability from any two channels present on a single satellite, but not offering multiple satellite PIP/multiple display capability, as the present invention does. In this example, offering PIP/multiple display capability from any two channels present on a single satellite requires two separate cables from switch 404. Switch 404 also connects each dish signal to band translation switch 402, and potentially to devices such as other switches of either type thereafter.

Band translation switch 402, however, as an embodiment of the present invention, is able to select any two bands from any combinations of satellites and dishes and stack them according to commands from television converter devices 420, 422 and 424. Thus band translation switch may advantageously be used with double tuner television converter devices 420, 422 and 424. While television converter devices 420, 422 and 424 are portrayed as being dual/double tuner devices, the technique is obviously scalable with additional levels of bandstacking, more tuners per television converter device and so on.

As band translation switch 402 provides each tuner in multiple tuner television converter devices 420, 422 and 424 with a set frequency band (for example, 950 MHz to 1450 MHz) within which the television converter device can find the desired programming, control electronics 202 need not be reprogrammed to accept a new band each time the user changes service. This saves a great deal of processing and reset time on the part of the television converter device.

FIG. 5 presents a block diagram of a multiple-satellite band translating system connected to a dual-tuner television converter device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 then presents a block diagram of a multiple-satellite band translating system connected to a multiple-tuner television converter device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that FIGS. 5 and 6 represent only two examples of the n-number of tuner configurations that are possible using band translation technology. One skilled in the art will also recognize that n-number of tuner configurations do not require an even number of tuners and that band translation for an odd number of tuners is also possible and within the scope of this invention. One skilled in the art will further recognize that the n-number of tuners may reside in devices (e.g., a personal computer) other than a television converter device in the form of a satellite STB.

Band translation switch 502 is connected to dual tuner television converter device 504 via separator 506. Cascade outputs 558 from band translation switch 502 allow band translation switch 802 to be connected with other band translation switches or conventional switches in a manner similar to the embodiment previously discussed with reference to FIG. 4.

Band translation switch 502 receives RF input from four satellite dishes 510, 512, 514 and 516. Band translation switch 502 might be connected to a lesser or greater number of such satellite dishes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, each satellite dish points to a different satellite. Dish 510 points to a satellite located at 119 degrees west longitude, dish 512 points to a satellite located at 110 degrees west longitude, dish 514 to a satellite located at 61.5 degrees west longitude and dish 516 to a satellite located at 148 degrees west longitude. All four satellites in this particular embodiment are in geosynchronous orbit (zero degrees latitude, low or zero eccentricity and 40,000 kilometer orbital radius with no relative angular velocity relative to a point on the surface of the Earth), however, should DBS systems evolve to include the ability of satellite dishes to track moving satellites (for example, the Molniya system) the band translation switch 502 of the invention may still be used without alteration. The band translation switch 502 of the invention may also be used without alteration in other television systems or communication systems now known or later developed, as circumstances require.

The output from exemplary dish 510 is sent to power divider 518. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, power divider 518 is a four way power divider, supporting a total of 4 tuners, for example, two television converter devices each having dual tuners. However, the power dividers of band translation switch 502 may be scaled from 4 outputs to 6, allowing switch 502 to support up to 6 tuners, such as would be present in a three dual-tuner television converter device system.

The outputs from the power dividers such as power divider 818 are sent to source selection switches 520 and 522. In one embodiment, two additional source selection switches (not pictured) are also present in band translation switch 502. Every source selection switch receives the signals from every satellite dish 510, 512, 514, and 516, in this embodiment. Note that since the signals received are polarized (left-hand, right-hand, vertical, horizontal or other polarization), each dish is actually bandstacking and sending to the source selection switches 520, 522 two pre-stacked bands of data. Thus in this embodiment source selection switch 520, for example, may be receiving up to eight 0.5 GHz wide bands of data (two bands per satellite dish) but will be selecting the output from one satellite only (2 bands of data) for transmission to the next stage of processing.

The output from source selection switch 520 goes to low band translator 524. LBT 524 includes signal path signal path switch 528 allowing bypass of the low band translation function, depending upon which band of the two pre-stacked bands received from switch 520 is the desirable band. If translation is desired, signal path switch 528 causes band translation at frequency mixer 538. If translation of the frequency bands is not desired, signal path switch 528 will bypass frequency mixer 538 and the translation function will not occur.

Translation is accomplished in frequency mixer 538 by summation-difference with a 3.1 GHz signal obtained from clock/frequency generator 532: a phase locked loop 534 and an oscillator 536. The translated or bypassed band is then passed through low pass filter 542. LPF 542 ensures that the signal sent from low band translator 524 is cut off beginning at approximately 1450 MHz. In present embodiment, the operative connection from low band translator 524 to frequency stacker 546 is by way of LPF 542, with such circuitry, wiring or cables as is in turn required between these components, however, in other embodiments the operative connection may be only circuitry, wiring, coaxial cable or other cabling.

In a like manner, the output from satellite selector switch 522 is sent to high band translator 526. Switch 530 either sends the signal to frequency mixer 540 (once again driven by local oscillator 536) or bypasses the high band translation step. The output from high band translator 526 is sent to high pass filter 544 which cuts off frequencies below approximately 1650 MHz.

Note that signal path switches 528 and 530 thus have at least two positions: first positions in which signal path switches 528 and 530 are in the circuit and second positions in which signal path switches 528 and 530 cause the band translators 524 and 526 to be bypassed, in which case the band translators 524 and 526 are said to be out of the circuit.

The two signals are combined after LPF 542 and HPF 544 in frequency stacker 546, then sent to separator 506. Tuner 848 is programmed to accept frequencies from 950 MHz to 1450 MHz while tuner 550 is programmed to accept frequencies from 1650 MHz to 2150 MHz, effectively redividing the signal on that basis. The 0.2 GHz bandwidth between 1450 MHz and 1650 MHz is referred to as a “guard band” and usually contains the quickly degrading frequencies cut off by LPF 542 and HPF 544: these cut off frequencies may drop by many dB before crossing the guard bandwidth, at which reduced level they do not significantly impact the signal being read by the other tuner.

In operation, tuners 548 and 550 will signal to band translation switch 502 which satellite and polarity on which may be found the desired service for each tuner. Source selection switches 520 and 522 will each select the proper satellite dish, which may be the same or a different dish. Each satellite switch 520, 522 will pass both bands from the selected satellite (pre-stacked from the different polarity signals sent on the same frequency to the dishes) to the band translators 524, 526. Low band translator 524 will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 548 is already in the lower (950-1450 MHz) band and if so, it will bypass translation and simply send the signal to LPF 542, which will filter out the higher frequency band. However if the signal is in the higher frequency band of 1650-2150 MHz, then signal path switch 528 will send the signal to frequency mixer 538 to down-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the lower band. (Note that in this event, the undesired lower frequency signal will have its frequency reduced from the lower band to an even lower frequency range (sub 950 MHz), below what tuner 548 recognizes.)

High band translator 526 will carry out the converse process: it will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 550 is already in the higher band and if so, will bypass high band translation and simply send the signal to HPF 544. On the other hand, if the signal which is desired by tuner 550 (programmed to accept the higher frequency band) is in the lower frequency band, then switch 530 will send the signal to frequency mixer 540 to up-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the higher range. In this case, the higher of the two bands sent to HBT 526 will be translated to a value above the highest frequency (2.15 GHz) which tuner 550 cannot recognize.

The result is that either tuner may request any frequency band from any satellite and yet receive it in the frequency range for which that tuner has already been programmed, thus eliminating the need for television converter device 504 to accept frequency bands as they arrived from the satellite dishes.

While only one television converter device 504 is shown, band translation switch 502 equipped with 4 way power dividers 518, for example, that can support two entirely independent dual tuner television converter devices via additional source selection switches, LBT, LPF, HBT, HPF and a frequency stacker. As stated earlier, by means of 6 way power dividers, three dual tuner television converter devices could be supported. One skilled in the art will recognize that several n-tuner configurations are possible.

Note that LPF 542, HPF 544 and frequency stacker 546 effectively amount to a diplexer. However, band translation switch 502 may have additional circuitry (intermediate band translators, intermediate bandpass filters, etc.) so as to function as a multiplexer; that is, to stack more than two bands into the output frequencies. Such a configuration might require tuners having additional spectrum recognition abilities and/or constraints on the use of coaxial cable (which might have shorter allowable runs, additional features to increase bandwidth or may be replaced with other forms of connection) but would not exceed the scope of the invention as claimed herein. In such a system, as is evident from FIG. 6, band translation switch 502 may support more than two tuners in a single television converter device on a single coaxial cable. For example, a first frequency band and a second frequency band of a single coaxial cable may be sub-divided so as to contain two frequency bands in each of the first and second frequency bands. In this example, four tuners in a single television converter device may then receive the four output frequency bands. One skilled in the art will recognize that band translation switch 502 may also be reconfigured to support multiple-tuner television converter device configurations.

In operation, it is possible that the two bands stacked for transmission to the dual tuner television converter device might come from different satellites or the same satellites, or might even be the same band, bandstacked onto itself. The original frequencies of the two bands may even become reversed in the band translation switch. In any embodiment, however, each tuner can receive its desired band in the frequency band it is pre-programmed to receive. Each tuner then performs RF tuning to the appropriate sub-band/channel, demodulating and demultiplexing; and digitally processing the chosen program service from among those program services on the channel.

The control system of switch 502 is also depicted. In operation, control signal detection and transmission interface 552 will detect control signals sent by tuners 548 and 550 and cooperate with microcontroller 554. In the present two-tuner embodiment, the control signals sent by tuners 548 and 550 will be designated as master and slave. For example, a master or primary control signal may be sent by tuner 548, while a slave or secondary signal is sent by tuner 550. Designation of control signals as master and slave may reduce the processing time of the control signal detection and transmission interface 552 and microcontroller 554. In another embodiment, the control signals sent by tuners 548 and 550 may operate independently. Microcontroller 554 has control authority over signal path switches 528 and 530, satellite selection switches 520 and 522 and control signal detection and transmission interface 556. Interface 556 may be a second control signal detection and transmission interface separate from interface 552, or in alternative embodiments the two structures may be combined. For example, the mere presence or absence of a signal may be used, respectively, to indicate a master or slave primary control signal.

In operation, signals sent from tuners 548 and 550 are used by microcontroller 554 to control the satellite selection switches 520 and 522; by this structure the appropriate satellite signals are sent to LBT 524 and HBT 526. Microcontroller 554 also controls signal path switches 528 and 530 independently from each other in order to determine whether band translation occurs in each translator; as a result of this, the band requested by tuners 548, 550, arrives at the tuner in the correct frequency band. In addition to signals sent from tuners 548, 550 to microcontroller 554, other signals are sent from tuners 548, 550 having preambles which indicate that they are to be passed through to the LNBF at the satellite dish.

As set forth earlier, FIG. 6 a block diagram of a multiple-satellite band translating system connected to a multiple-tuner television converter device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Band translation switch 602 is connected to a four tuner television converter device 604 via separator 606. Cascade outputs 634 from band translation switch 602 allow band translation switch 602 to be connected with other band translation switches or conventional switches in a manner similar to the embodiment previously discussed with reference to FIG. 5.

Band translation switch 602 receives RF input from four satellite dishes 610, 612, 614 and 616. Band translation switch 602 might be connected to a lesser or greater number of such satellite dishes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, each satellite dish points to a different satellite. Dish 610 points to a satellite located at 119 degrees west longitude, dish 612 points to a satellite located at 110 degrees west longitude, dish 614 to a satellite located at 61.5 degrees west longitude and dish 616 to a satellite located at 148 degrees west longitude. All four satellites in this particular embodiment are in geosynchronous orbit (zero degrees latitude, low or zero eccentricity and 40,000 kilometer orbital radius with no relative angular velocity relative to a point on the surface of the Earth), however, should DBS systems evolve to include the ability of satellite dishes to track moving satellites (for example, the Molniya system) the band translation switch 602 of the invention may still be used without alteration. The band translation switch 902 of the invention may also be used without alteration in other television systems or communication systems now known or later developed, as circumstances require.

The output from exemplary dish 610 is sent to power divider 608. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, power divider 608 is a four way power divider and supports a total of 4 tuners in a single television converter device. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that n-number of tuners is possible and that placement of the n-number of tuners need not occur in the same television converter device. For example, two television converter devices may each have dual tuners. Likewise, the power dividers of band translation switch 602 may also be scaled from 4 outputs to 6, allowing switch 602 to support up to 6 tuners, such as would be present in a three dual-tuner television converter device system.

The outputs from the power dividers such as power divider 608 are sent to source selection switches 626, 628, 630, and 632. Every source selection switch receives the signals from every satellite dish 610, 612, 614, and 616, in this embodiment. Note that since the signals received are polarized (left-hand, right-hand, vertical, horizontal or other polarization), each dish is actually bandstacking and sending to the source selection switches 626, 628, 630, and 632 four pre-stacked bands of data or a bank of independent polarization bands. Thus in this embodiment source selection switch 626, for example, may be receiving up to eight 0.5 GHz wide bands of data (two bands per satellite dish) but will be selecting the output from one satellite only (2 bands of data) for transmission to the next stage of processing.

The output from source selection switch 626 goes to low band translator (LBT) 636. LBT 636 includes frequency mixer 638. Band translation is accomplished in frequency mixer 638 by summation-difference with a 3.1 GHz signal obtained from low band oscillator unit (LBOU) 698: a local oscillator path switch 680, a phase locked translation oscillator 676, a phase locked bypass oscillator 678 and an oscillator control 682. Local oscillator path switch 680 allows bypass of the band translation function depending upon the desired band set forth by the oscillator control 682. If translation is desired by the oscillator control 682, phase locked translation oscillator 676 translates the signal at a frequency of approximately 2675 MHz to 3175 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 638. If translation is not desired by the oscillator control 682, phase locked bypass oscillator 678 bypasses the signal at a frequency of approximately 1975 MHz to 2475 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 638 without band translation of the signal. One skilled in the art will recognize that other band translation and bypass structures are possible within the LBOU. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that several other translation and bypass signal oscillation frequencies are possible and within the scope of this invention. The translated or bypassed band is then passed through low pass filter (LPF) 652. LPF 652 ensures that the signal sent from low band translator 636 is cut off at frequencies below approximately 950 MHz and above 1100 MHz.

In a like manner, the output from satellite selector switch 928 is sent to a second band translator (SBT) 640. SBT 640 includes frequency mixer 642. Band translation is accomplished in frequency mixer 642 by summation-difference with a 3.1 GHz signal obtained from low mid-range band oscillator unit (LMBOU) 601: a local oscillator path switch 690, a phase locked translation oscillator 684, a phase locked bypass oscillator 686 and an oscillator control 688. Local oscillator path switch 690 allows bypass of the band translation function depending upon the desired band set forth by the oscillator control 688. If translation is desired by the oscillator control 688, phase locked translation oscillator 684 translates the signal at a frequency of approximately 3025 MHz to 3525 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 642. If translation is not desired by the oscillator control 688, phase locked bypass oscillator 686 bypasses the signal at a frequency of approximately 2325 MHz to 2825 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 642 without band translation of the signal. One skilled in the art will recognize that other band translation and bypass structures are possible within the LMBOU. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that several other translation and bypass signal oscillation frequencies are possible and within the scope of this invention. The translated or bypassed band is then passed through low mid-range pass filter (LMPF) 654. LMPF 654 ensures that the signal sent from SBT 640 is cut off at frequencies below approximately 1300 MHz and above 1450 MHz.

Similarly, the output from satellite selector switch 930 is sent to a third band translator (TBT) 644. TBT 644 includes frequency mixer 646. Band translation is accomplished in frequency mixer 646 by summation-difference with a 3.1 GHz signal obtained from high mid-range band oscillator unit (HMBOU) 696: a local oscillator path switch 672, a phase locked translation oscillator 668, a phase locked bypass oscillator 670 and an oscillator control 674. Local oscillator path switch 672 allows bypass of the band translation function depending upon the desired band set forth by the oscillator control 674. If translation is desired by the oscillator control 674, phase locked translation oscillator 668 translates the signal at a frequency of approximately 3375 MHz to 3875 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 646. If translation is not desired by the oscillator control 674, phase locked bypass oscillator 670 bypasses the signal at a frequency of approximately 2675 MHz to 3175 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 646 without band translation of the signal. One skilled in the art will recognize that other band translation and bypass structures are possible within the HMBOU. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that several other translation and bypass signal oscillation frequencies are possible and within the scope of this invention. The translated or bypassed band is then passed through high mid-range pass filter (HMPF) 656. HMPF 656 ensures that the signal sent from TBT 644 is cut off at frequencies below approximately 1650 MHz and above 1800 MHz.

Finally, to describe the last translator of this embodiment, the output from satellite selector switch 632 is sent to a high band translator (HBT) 648. HBT 648 includes frequency mixer 650. Band translation is accomplished in frequency mixer 650 by summation-difference with a 3.1 GHz signal obtained from high band oscillator unit (HBOU) 694: a local oscillator path switch 664, a phase locked translation oscillator 660, a phase locked bypass oscillator 662 and an oscillator control 666. Local oscillator path switch 664 allows bypass of the band translation function depending upon the desired band set forth by the oscillator control 666. If translation is desired by the oscillator control 666, phase locked translation oscillator 660 translates the signal at a frequency of approximately 3725 MHz to 4225 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 650. If translation is not desired by the oscillator control 666, phase locked bypass oscillator 662 bypasses the signal at a frequency of approximately 3025 MHz to 3525 MHz and returns the signal to frequency mixer 650 without band translation of the signal. One skilled in the art will recognize that other band translation and bypass structures are possible within the HBOU. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that several other translation and bypass signal oscillation frequencies are possible and within the scope of this invention. The translated or bypassed band is then passed through high pass filter (HPF) 658. HPF 658 ensures that the signal sent from HBT 648 is cut off at frequencies below approximately 2000 MHz and above 2150 MHz.

In the present embodiment, the operative connection from band translators 636, 640, 644 and 648 to frequency stacker 690 is by way of LPF 652, LMPF 654, HMPF 656 and HPF 658, with such circuitry, wiring or cables as are in turn required between these components, however, in other embodiments the operative connection may be only circuitry, wiring, coaxial cable or other cabling.

The four signals are combined from LPF 652, LMPF 654, HMPF 656 and HPF 658 in frequency stacker 690; the combined signal then is sent to splitter 606. Tuner 618 is programmed to accept frequencies from 950 MHz to 1100 MHz, tuner 620 is programmed to accept frequencies from 1300 MHz to 1450 MHz, tuner 622 is programmed to accept frequencies from 1650 MHz to 1800 MHz and tuner 624 is programmed to accept frequencies from 2000 MHz to 2150 MHz. Each tuner 618, 620, 622, and 624 effectively redivides the signal by these frequency programming ranges. The 0.2 GHz bandwidth between 1450 MHz and 1650 MHz, for example, is referred to as a “guard band” and usually contains the quickly degrading frequencies cut off by LMPF 654 and HMPF 656: these cut off frequencies may drop by many dB before crossing the guard bandwidth, at which reduced level they do not significantly impact the signal being read by the other tuner.

In operation, tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 will signal to band translation switch 602 which satellite and polarity on which may be found the desired service for each tuner. Source selection switches 626, 628, 630 and 632 will each select the proper satellite dish, which may be the same or a different dish. Each satellite switch 626, 628, 630 and 632 will pass both bands from the selected satellite (pre-stacked from the different polarity signals sent on the same frequency to the dishes) to the band translators 636, 640, 644, and 648.

LBT 936 will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 618 is already in the lower (950-1100 MHz) band and if so, it will bypass translation and simply send the signal to LPF 652, which will filter out the other frequency bands. However if the signal is in a higher frequency band of 1300-1450 MHz, for example, then frequency mixer 638 will down-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the appropriate lower band. Note that in this event, the undesired lower frequency signal will have its frequency reduced from the lower band to an even lower frequency range (sub 950 MHz), below what tuner 618 recognizes.

SBT 640 will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 620 is already in the lower mid-range (1300-1450 MHz) band and if so, it will bypass translation and simply send the signal to LMPF 654, which will filter out the other frequency bands. However if the signal is in the higher frequency band of 1650-1800 MHz, for example, then frequency mixer 642 will down-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the appropriate lower band. Note that in this event, the undesired lower frequency signal will have its frequency reduced from the lower band to an even lower frequency range (sub 1300 MHz), below what tuner 620 recognizes.

TBT 644 will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 622 is already in the higher mid-range (1650-1800 MHz) band and if so, it will bypass translation and simply send the signal to HMPF 656, which will filter out the other frequency bands. However if the signal is in the higher frequency band of 2000-2150 MHz, for example, then frequency mixer 646 to down-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the appropriate lower band. Note that in this event, the undesired lower frequency signal will have its frequency reduced from the lower band to an even lower frequency range (sub 1650 MHz), below what tuner 622 recognizes.

HBT 648 will carry out the converse process: it will determine if the signal to be sent to tuner 624 is already in the higher band and if so, will bypass high band translation and simply send the signal to HPF 658. On the other hand, if the signal which is desired by tuner 624 (programmed to accept the higher frequency band) is in a lower frequency band, then frequency mixer 650 will up-convert the frequency of the desired signal to the higher range. In this case, the higher of the four bands sent to HBT 648 will be translated to a value above the highest frequency (2.15 GHz) which tuner 624 cannot recognize.

The result of the embodiment described above is that either tuner may request any frequency band from any satellite and yet receive it in the frequency range for which that tuner has already been programmed, thus eliminating the need for television converter device 604 to accept frequency bands as they arrived from the satellite dishes.

Note that LPF 652, LMPF 654, HMPF 656, HPF 658 and frequency stacker 690 effectively amount to a multiplexer; that is, more than two bands are stacked into multiple output frequencies. A person skilled in the art would recognize that this multiplexer configuration typically requires tuners to have additional spectrum recognition abilities and/or constraints on the use of coaxial cable (which may have shorter allowable runs, additional features to increase bandwidth or may be replaced with other forms of connection) that are within the scope of the invention as claimed herein. In such a system, as is evident from FIGS. 5 and 6, a band translation switch may support more than two tuners in a single television converter device on a single coaxial cable. As is also evident from the drawings, band translation switches may also be reconfigured so as to support one or more single tuner television converter devices from a single coaxial cable carrying a signal from one or more satellite dishes.

The control system of switch 602 is also depicted. In operation, control signal detection and transmission interface 692 will detect control signals sent by tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 and cooperate with microcontroller 694. In this embodiment, the control signals sent by tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 operate independently. One skilled in the art will recognize that several control signaling paradigms are possible and within the scope of this invention. Microcontroller 694 has control authority over band translation oscillator control 666, 674, 682, 688 and control signal detection and transmission interface 696. Interface 696 may be a second control signal detection and transmission interface separate from interface 692, or in alternative embodiments the two structures may be combined.

In operation, signals sent from tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 are used by microcontroller 694 to control the band translation oscillators 660, 668, 676, 684 and bypass oscillators 662, 670, 678, 686; by this structure the appropriate satellite signals are sent to LBT 636, SBT 640, TBT 644 and HBT 648. In addition to signals sent from tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 to microcontroller 694, other signals are sent from tuners 618, 620, 622 and 624 having preambles which indicate that they are to be passed through to the LNBF at the satellite dish.

In band translation switches 402, 502, 602 and 301 at least two switching protocols may be used: proprietary 13/18 switching and the DiSEqC 2.0 protocol. In the former technique, television converter devices send proprietary commands to the band translation switch by varying the length and pattern of the 13 volt or 18 volt potential. Based on the commands sent, the band translation switch selects the appropriate signal to send back to the sending television converter devices. Referring once again to FIG. 3, the 13/18 polarity may be passed directly by switch 301 to dish/LNBFs 303, 304, or switch 301 may maintain constant polarity. In one embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, the DiSEqC 2.0 protocol is used. The DiSEqC 2.0 protocol, unlike the 13/18 polarity method, allows for bidirectional communication among the five components of the switching system. Television converter devices 302 and 305 provide the current to operate switch 301 and the LNBFs located at dish/LNBFs 303 and 304. In other embodiments, switch 301 may be integrated with, included within or housed inside of an LNBF. Under either protocol, television converter devices 302 and 305 are capable of independent operation in which the activities of one box do not effect the activities of the other. Under either protocol, tuners 548, 550, 618, 620, 622, and 624 are capable of independent operation in which the activities and band selected by one tuner do not effect the activities of the other.

FIG. 7 depicts a band-stacked low-noise block converter (LNB) embodiment of the method for band translation. In this embodiment, LNB 774 is connected to band translation block 702 and satellites 764, 766 that receive, respectively, signals from satellites located at 119 degrees west longitude and 110 degrees west longitude. Dish 764 receives signals that are left-hand circular polarized (LHCP) in the frequency band range of 1650 MHz to 2150MHz and right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) in the frequency band range of 950 MHz to 1450 MHz. Likewise, dish 766 also receives signals that are left-hand circular polarize (LHCP) in the frequency band range of 1650 MHz to 2150 MHz and right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) in the frequency band range of 950 MHz to 1450 MHz. Alternatively, in another embodiment, Dish 764 may receive signal polarity bands that are not stacked and that comprise a single satellite signal. One skilled in the art will recognize that several satellite orbital locations and radio frequency bands are possible and also within the scope of this invention. LNB 774 is optionally connected via Aux LNBF Input 768 to a band-stacked LNB 770 input.

LNB 774 may include circuitry to maintain signal bands, including amplifiers 760, 762, 734, 732, 758, 756, 728, 730. One skilled in the art will recognize that other signal processing circuitry is possible within the LNB and within the scope of this invention. LNB 774 also includes signal frequency mixers 736 and 738 that are connected via local signal oscillator 746. Local signal oscillator 746, operating in this embodiment at a signal frequency of 14.35 GHz, band-stacks the recieved LHCP signals 748, 752 from two independent satellite dishes 764, 766 into signals 722, 720. Similarly, LNB 774 also includes signal frequency mixers 742 and 740 that are connected via local signal oscillator 744. Local signal oscillator 744, operating in this embodiment at a signal frequency of 11.25 GHz, band-stacks the recieved RHCP signals 750, 754 from two independent satellite dishes 764, 766 into signals 724, 726. Frequency stackers 716 and 718 then combine signals 720, 722, 724 and 726. LNB 774 also includes band translation block 702. Band translation block 702 receives combined signals and processes the requests for specific bands contained within the received signals. One skilled in the art will recognize that other circuit elements and different combinations of existing elements are possible and within the scope of this invention, including non-stacked frequency bands.

Band-stacked output signals from LNB 774 are identified as port 1 704 and port 2 706. Port 1 704 and port 2 706 may be connected to individual or multiple tuners that may request delivery of specific signal bands. Furthermore, the signals carried on output ports 704 and 706 from LNB 774 may also be connected to other RF processing elements, including but not limited to DiSEqC 2.0/XMT switching protocol detection unit 708, processing unit 712, voltage supplies 714 and power management unit 710.

While co-axial cables are mentioned as the transmission means between elements of the invention and between the invention and other elements of the overall DBS system, other methods may be used. For example, microstrip technology may be employed both for communication and for RF circuit elements.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 

1. An integrated switch with band translation, comprising: a first input configured to receive a first signal in a first input frequency band, the first input frequency band selected from a plurality of predetermined frequency bands; a second input configured to receive a second signal in a second input frequency band, the second input frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands; a crosspoint switch connected to the first input and second input, the crosspoint switch configured to selectively route the first signal to a first switch output selected from a plurality of switch outputs and further configured to route the second signal to a second switch output selected from the plurality of switch outputs; a first band translation device connected to the first switch output, the first band translation device configured to frequency translate the first signal to a first output frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands; and a second band translation device connected to the second switch output, the second band translation device configured to frequency translate the second signal to a second output frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
 2. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, further comprising a first amplifier interposed between the first input and a first input of the crosspoint switch, the amplifier comprising an input connected to the first input and an output connected to the first input of the crosspoint switch, the amplifier output also connected to a cascade output.
 3. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, further comprising: a first filter having an input and an output, the input of the first filter connected to an output of the first band translation device, and a second filter having an input and an output, the input of the second filter connected to an output of the second band translation device.
 4. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 3, wherein the first filter comprises a bandpass filter having a passband comprising the first output frequency band.
 5. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, further comprising a signal summer having a first input connected to an output of the first band translation device, the signal summer having a second input connected to an output of the second band translation device.
 6. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined frequency bands comprises the first input frequency band and the second input frequency band.
 7. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, wherein the first input is further configured to receive a third signal in a third input frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands, and wherein the second input is further configured to receive a fourth signal in a fourth input frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
 8. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 7, wherein the second input frequency band comprises substantially the third input frequency band.
 9. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 7, wherein the first input frequency band comprises substantially the fourth input frequency band.
 10. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, wherein the first input frequency band comprises substantially the first output frequency band.
 11. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, wherein the first input frequency band comprises a frequency band distinct from the first output frequency band.
 12. The integrated switch with band translation of claim 1, further comprising a block converter having an output connected to the first input, the block converter configured to receive signals from a satellite transponder group and block convert the signals from the satellite transponder group to the first input frequency band.
 13. A band translation switch, comprising: a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier having an amplifier input and an amplifier output, each amplifier configured to receive an input signal having at least two frequency bands selected from a plurality of predetermined frequency bands; a crosspoint switch comprising N inputs and M outputs, the crosspoint switch configured to selectively connect any of the N inputs to any of the M outputs, each of the N inputs connected to at least one amplifier output; and M band translation devices, each of the M band translation devices having an input connected to one of the M outputs of the crosspoint switch, each of the M band translation devices configured to frequency translate a signal from the one of the M outputs of the crosspoint switch from a first frequency band to a second frequency band.
 14. The band translation switch of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a low noise amplifier having an output of the band translation switch in parallel with the amplifier output.
 15. The band translation switch of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of amplifiers comprises: a first buffer amplifier having an input connected to the amplifier input and an output connected to the amplifier output; and a second buffer amplifier having an input connected to the amplifier input, the output of the buffer amplifier comprising an output of the band translation switch.
 16. The band translation switch of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of amplifiers comprises: a power divider having an input connected to the amplifier input, a first divider output, and a second divider output, wherein the second divider output comprises an output of the band translation switch; and a buffer amplifier having an input connected to the first divider output, the buffer amplifier also having an output connected to the amplifier output.
 17. The band translation switch of claim 13, wherein a first amplifier selected from the plurality of amplifiers is configured to receive a band-stacked signal having a signal in a lower frequency band and a signal in an upper frequency band, the lower frequency band and the upper frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
 18. The band translation switch of claim 17, wherein a first band translation device is configured to frequency translate the signal in the lower frequency band signal to an output signal in the upper frequency band.
 19. The band translation switch of claim 17, wherein a first band translation device is configured to frequency translate the signal in the upper frequency band signal to an output signal in the lower frequency band.
 20. The band translation switch of claim 17, wherein each of the M band translation devices comprises: a frequency translation signal path; and a pass-through signal path in parallel with the frequency translation path; wherein, each of the M band translation devices is independently controlled to select either the frequency translation signal path or the pass-through signal path.
 21. The band translation switch of claim 13, further comprising a Local Oscillator (LO) and wherein each of the M band translation devices comprises a mixer having a LO port connected to the LO.
 22. The band translation switch of claim 21, wherein the LO is a programmable frequency LO.
 23. The band translation switch of claim 21, wherein the LO is a fixed frequency LO.
 24. The band translation switch of claim 13, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band are selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
 25. A band translation switch comprising: a first input amplifier on a substrate, the first amplifier having an input and an output, the first amplifier configured to receive a first signal in a first frequency band selected from a plurality of predetermined frequency bands; a second input amplifier on the substrate, the second amplifier having an input and an output, the second amplifier configured to receive a second signal in a second frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands; a switch on the substrate, the switch having first and second inputs connected to the first amplifier output and the second amplifier output, respectively, the switch also having a first switch output and a second switch output, the switch configured to selectively route a signal from the first switch input to one of the first switch output or the second switch output; a first band translation device on the substrate, the first band translation device having an input connected to the first switch output, the first band translation device configured to selectively frequency translate the first signal from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and a second band translation device on the substrate, the second band translation device connected to the second switch output, the second band translation device configured to selectively frequency translate the second signal from the second frequency band to the first frequency band.
 26. The band translation switch of claim 25, further comprising: a first block converter configured to receive input signals from a first satellite transponder, the first block converter further configured to frequency translate the input signals to the first signal in the first frequency band.
 27. A method of integrated band translation, the method comprising: receiving an input signal from a satellite transponder group, the input signal in a first frequency band selected from a plurality of predetermined frequency bands; amplifying the input signals in an amplifier; coupling a cascade output to an amplifier output; routing a signal from the amplifier output, independent of the cascade output, to a first band translation device selected from a plurality of band translation devices; frequency translating the signal from the amplifier output from the first frequency band to a second frequency band, the second frequency band selected from the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the act of receiving the input signal comprises: receiving first downlink signals from the satellite transponder group; and block converting the downlink signals to the first frequency band.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the act of receiving the input signal further comprises: receiving second downlink signals from an additional satellite transponder group; and block converting the second downlink signals to the second frequency band.
 30. A method of integrated band translation, the method comprising: receiving one or more input signals; routing, using a crosspoint switch, each of the one or more input signals to any combination of one or more band translation devices; and frequency translating at least one of the input signals using the one or more band translation devices.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving one or more input signals comprises receiving input signals from a first frequency band.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving one or more input signals comprises receiving input signals from a satellite transponder.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving one or more input signals comprises receiving input signals having a known polarization.
 34. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving one or more input signals comprises: receiving a first input signal in a first input frequency band at a first input; and receiving a second input signal in a second input frequency band at a second input.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first input frequency band is independent of the second input frequency band.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first input frequency band overlaps the second input frequency band.
 37. The method of claim 30, further comprising passing at least one input signal to an output of a band translation device without frequency translation.
 38. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises: frequency translating, in a first band translation device, a first input signal in a first frequency band to a first output signal in a first output frequency band; and frequency translating, in a second band translation device, a second input signal in a second frequency band to a second output signal in a second output frequency band.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising combining the first output signal with the second output signal.
 40. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises frequency downconverting the at least one input signal.
 41. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises frequency upconverting the at least one input signal.
 42. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises: frequency upconverting the at least one input signal frequency at least one time; and frequency downconverting the at least one input signal at least one time.
 43. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises: frequency downconverting the at least one input signal to at least one baseband signal; and frequency upconverting the at least one baseband signal to an output frequency band.
 44. The method of claim 30, wherein frequency translating at least one of the input signals comprises: mixing the at least one input signal with a first Local Oscillator (LO) frequency in a first mixer; and mixing the at least one input signal with a second LO frequency in a second mixer.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the first LO comprises a frequency tunable LO.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the first LO comprises the second LO.
 47. The method of claim 30, further comprising outputting at least one of the one or more input signals prior to frequency translation.
 48. The method of claim 30, further comprising amplifying the one or more input signals.
 49. A band translation device, the device comprising: one or more inputs each configured to receive one or more input signals; a crosspoint switch coupled to the one or more inputs and configured to route each of the one or more input signals to any combination of one or more crosspoint switch outputs; and one or more band translation devices having inputs coupled to at least one of the one or more crosspoint switch outputs, at least one of the one or more band translation devices configured to frequency translate the one or more input signals.
 50. A method of distributing signals in a satellite-based signal distribution system having a plurality of transponder groups, the method comprising: receiving signals from a first satellite transponder group; block converting the signals to an intermediate frequency; adjusting a power of the signals in an amplifier in an integrated circuit; and band translating an output signal from the amplifier to one of a plurality of frequency bands.
 51. The method of claim 50, further comprising: connecting an output of the amplifier to an in-line signal path; and connecting the output of the amplifier to a cascade signal path.
 52. The method of claim 50, further comprising routing an output signal from the amplifier to one of a plurality of outputs of a crosspoint switch.
 53. A signal distribution device configured for use in a signal distribution system having a centralized signal input and multiple destination devices in remote locations, the device comprising: an amplifier having an input and an output, and configured to selectively amplify a signal received at the centralized signal input; a signal processing device, an input of the signal processing device coupled to the output of the amplifier, an output of the signal processing device coupled to a first output of the signal distribution device; wherein the amplifier further includes a cascade output connected to the amplifier output and also connected to an output of the signal distribution device.
 54. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the signal processing device comprises a signal splitter.
 55. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the signal processing device comprises a band translation device.
 56. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the signal processing device comprises a crosspoint switch.
 57. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a satellite downlink signal received at the centralized signal input.
 58. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a satellite television downlink signal received at the centralized signal input.
 59. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a cable television signal received at the centralized signal input.
 60. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a terrestrial television signal received at the centralized signal input.
 61. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a telephone signal received at the centralized signal input.
 62. The signal distribution device of claim 53, wherein the amplifier amplifies a data signal received at the centralized signal input.
 63. A method of distributing signals in a signal distribution system having a plurality of band stacked signal groups, the method comprising: receiving a signal group from the plurality of band stacked signal groups; adjusting a power of the signal group in an amplifier in an integrated circuit; and distributing an output signal from the amplifier to a destination device.
 64. The method of claim 63, wherein the plurality of band stacked signal groups comprises: a first signal group in a 950-1450 MHz frequency band; and a second signal group in a 1650-2150 MHz frequency band.
 65. A signal distribution device in a signal distribution system having a centralized signal input and multiple destination devices in remote locations, the device comprising: a first amplifier having an input, an in-line output, and a cascade output; a second amplifier having an input connected to the cascade output of the first amplifier, an in-line output, and a cascade output; and
 66. The signal distribution device of claim 65, wherein the in-line output of the first amplifier is connected to a first of the multiple destination devices.
 67. The signal distribution device of claim 66, wherein the in-line output of the second amplifier is connected to a second of the multiple destination devices.
 68. A method of distributing signals in a satellite-based signal distribution system having a plurality of transponder groups, the method comprising: receiving signals from a first satellite transponder group; adjusting a power of the signals in an amplifier; connecting an output of the amplifier to an in-line signal path; and connecting the output of the amplifier to a cascade signal path.
 69. The method of claim 68, further comprising adjusting a power of a signal in the cascade signal path in an additional amplifier.
 70. A signal distribution device in a signal distribution system having at least one signal input and one or more destination devices in remote locations, the device comprising: an output amplifier having an input and an output, and configured to provide a signal gain; and a signal processing device having an input of the signal processing device coupled to the output of the amplifier, an output of the signal processing device coupled to a first output of the signal distribution device.
 71. The signal distribution device of claim 70, wherein the signal processing device comprises one or more devices selected from the group comprising a signal splitter, a signal combiner, an amplifier, an attenuator, a filter, a band translation device, and a multiplexer.
 72. The signal distribution device of claim 70, further comprising an antenna configured to receive signals from one or more satellites, the output of the antenna coupled to the input of the amplifier.
 73. The signal distribution device of claim 72, wherein the signal processing device comprises a band translation device.
 74. A mixer circuit, comprising: a mixer corecomprising: a first switch having an input switchable between a first output and a second output; and a second switch having an input switchable between a first output and a second output; and a mode select circuit coupled to the mixer core.
 75. The mixer circuit of claim 74, wherein each of the first and second switches is operable to switch between its first and second output at a predefined frequency.
 76. The mixer circuit of claim 75, wherein the input of each of the first and second switches are operable to continue switching between their respective first and second outputs at the predefined frequency.
 77. A mixer circuit configured to operate in a bypass or mixing mode, the mixer circuit comprising: a mixer core, which comprises: a first switch having an input, a first output, and a second output.
 78. A mixer circuit configured to operate in a bypass mode or in a mixing mode, the mixer circuit comprising: a mode select switch having an input configured to receive a first signal operating at a first frequency, the input switchable between a first output and a second output; a bypass circuit having an input port coupled to the first output of the mode select switch, and a load port, the bypass circuit configured to pass the first signal therethrough; and a mixer core having a first input port coupled to the second output of the mode select switch, a second input port configured to receive a second signal operating at a second frequency, and a load port; wherein, when the input of the mode select switch is coupled to the bypass circuit, the first signal is supplied to the load port, and when the input of the mode select switch is coupled to the mixer core, the first signal is supplied to the mixer core, thereby producing a third signal operating at a frequency defined by a mixing product of the first and second frequencies.
 79. The mixer circuit of claim 78, further comprising a common load coupled to the load ports of the bypass circuit and mixer core, wherein when the mode select switch is coupled to the bypass circuit, the first signal is output to the common load, and when the mode select switch is coupled to the mixer core, the third signal is output to the common load.
 80. A common oscillator, multiple mixer system, comprising: an oscillator configured to output a reference signal operating at an reference frequency; and a plurality of mixer circuits, each mixer circuit coupled to receive the reference signal and each mixer circuit comprising: a mixer core, further comprising: a first switch having an input switchable between a first output and a second output; and a second switch having an input switchable between a first output and a second output; and a mode select circuit coupled to the mixer core.
 81. The mixer circuit of claim 80, further comprising at least one IF load coupled to the first output of the first switch and the second output of the second switch.
 82. The mixer circuit of claim 81, wherein each of the first and second switches is operable to switch between its first and second output at the reference frequency.
 83. The mixer circuit of claim 82, wherein the input of each of the first and second switches are operable to continue switching between their respective first and second outputs at the reference frequency.
 84. A common oscillator, multiple mixer system, comprising: an oscillator configured to output a reference signal operating at an reference frequency; and a plurality of mixer circuits, each mixer circuit coupled to receive the reference signal and each mixer circuit comprising: a mode select switch having an input configured to receive a respective input signal operating at a respective input frequency, the input switchable between a first output and a second output; a bypass circuit having an input port coupled to the first output of the mode select switch, and a load port, the bypass circuit configured to pass the first signal therethrough; and a mixer core having a first input port coupled to the second output of the mode select switch, a second input port configured to receive the reference signal operating at the reference frequency, and a load port; wherein, when the input of the mode select switch is coupled to the bypass circuit, the respective input signal is supplied to the load port, and when the input of the mode select switch is coupled to the mixer core, the respective input signal is supplied to the mixer core, thereby producing a third signal operating at a frequency defined by a mixing product of the respective input and reference frequencies.
 85. The common oscillator, multiple mixer system of claim 84, wherein each mixer circuit further comprises a common load coupled to the load ports of the bypass circuit and mixer core, wherein when the mode select switch is coupled to the bypass circuit, the respective input signal is output to the common load, and when the mode select switch is coupled to the mixer core, the third signal is output to the common load.
 86. In a system which receives a first signal operating at a first frequency, a method for selectively outputting either the first signal operating at the first frequency, or a signal operating at a frequency defined by the mixing product of the first frequency and a second frequency, the method comprising: supplying the first signal to at least one of two input switches, wherein each of the two input switches has an input switchable to either a first output or a second output; for each of the first and second switches, switching the input terminal between the first and second outputs at a second frequency; and connecting the first and second outputs of each of the first and second switches to either (i) a signal at the first frequency, or (ii) a signal at a frequency defined by a mixing product of the first and second frequencies.
 87. A circuit, having N-input by M-output crosspoint switch with band translation, for use in an RF signal distribution system, the circuit comprising: an N input switch configured to route an input signal at any one of the N inputs to any one of the M outputs; and M band translation devices, each of the M band translation devices connected to an output of the N input switch and configured to selectively frequency translate or pass through a signal from the output of the N input switch.
 88. The circuit of claim 87, wherein the N input switch comprises N groups of M switches, with each group of M switches having inputs connected to a separate one of the N inputs, each group of M switches further having each of the M switch outputs connected to a separate one of the M band translation devices.
 89. The circuit of claim 88, wherein each switch in the N groups of M switches is selectively enabled or disabled based on a control signal.
 90. The circuit of claim 87, further comprising N low noise amplifiers (LNAs), with each LNA having an output connected to a separate input on the N input switch.
 91. The circuit of claim 87, wherein each of the M band translation devices is configured to frequency translate a signal from a first RF frequency band to a second. 